1 Scope

This part of IEC 61290 applies to all commercially available optical amplifiers (OAs) and optically amplified sub-systems. It applies to OAs using optically pumped fibres (OFAs based on either rare-earth doped fibres or on the Raman effect), semiconductors (SOAs), and planar optical waveguides (POWAs). This document does not apply to polarization-maintaining optical amplifiers.

This document defines uniform requirements for accurate and reliable measurements, by means of the electrical spectrum analyzer test method, of the following OA parameters, as defined in IEC 61291‑1, Clause 3:

1. nominal output signal power;

2. gain;

3. reverse gain;

4. maximum gain;

5. polarization-dependent gain.

In addition, this test method provides a means for measuring the following parameters:

• maximum gain wavelength;

• gain wavelength band.

This document specifically covers single-channel amplifiers. For multichannel amplifiers, the IEC 61290‑10 series applies.